But what clouds our view is the Enemy’s skill at cropping photos.
Forgiveness is when you turn to the Lord in prayer and say, “God, by the grace of Jesus I want you to know I forgive this person. You forgave me. I forgive them. I can’t hold against this person more than what you chose not to hold against me.” You have the power, because of the cross, to say, “I forgive you.
Satan was defeated on the cross.
Abandoning the tiny story of me and embracing the forever Story of Jesus will allow our little lives to be filled with the wonder of God as we live for the unending applause of His name. And joining our small stories to His will give us what we all want most in life, anyway: the assurance that our brief moments on earth will count for something in a Story that never ends.
Resisting means we make a stand against temptation. We choose the pathway of Jesus. With the power of God in our lives, we deliberately decide to draw close to him.
Our ultimate defense against giants – the best defense we have – is to lean into the all-sufficiency of Jesus.
Now is the time to walk in the freedom that he has won.
The gospel is about living in the light of Jesus’ resurrection power every day. It’s about who we trust in every moment with our life and eternity.
Instead, God wants to take us on an adventure far out into the widest part of the ocean. He leads us into deep waters where there’s no way our feet can touch bottom anymore. That’s when we lean on God and constantly seek his face and heart and thoughts, because there’s no way we can ever swim in the deepest part of the ocean unless we know the one who holds the seas in the palm of his hand.
Wanting to steer toward great outcomes is noble. But trying to control the world is disastrous. In time, controllers crack under the reality that none of us are in control.
It starts with seeing and believing that whatever giant we’re battling might be big – but it’s not bigger than Jesus. Nine feet tall is nothing to him. And he intends to set you free.
I am His. My struggles are His. My future is His. My reputation is His. My needs are His. Everything is His!
The only thing that will help us move past the giant of rejection is to immerse ourselves in the acceptance of Christ.
Worship is a shift of attention that allows us to see God better. Worship is like corrective lenses for our souls, bringing God clearer into view.
A God who is beyond out ability to fully describe or imagine, yet someone we are privileged to know, love, and embrace.
Don’t dismiss the idea of a comeback if you’re someone who is already saved and walking faithfully with the Lord. You may need a fresh start after you find that your dreams – holy dreams – have crashed into pieces at your feet.
Intimacy with God is the way to true fulfillment. How do you keep the Enemy from sitting at your table? You keep your eyes on Christ.
Don’t give the Enemy a seat. Don’t entertain his ideas. These thoughts are not from a good and trustworthy Shepherd. Move on.
I couldn’t stop the Devil from prowling around my table, but in Jesus’ name I definitely did have the choice whether I allowed the Enemy to sit down.
You are a son or daughter of God. You are a child of the King. You are written into God’s will, and you are an heir of everything God has. You are a beneficiary of the lavish love of God, which has changed you from failure to family. Grace not only cancels guilt and shame; grace redefines you. You are a beloved family member of God, and because of that you are given a seat at the table with Almighty God.
God wants to be known by you, and you can know as much about Him as you have the appetite and desire to know.